Dood eind (2006) User Reviews

Technically it's okay; but that's about it.

[Tridentmovies · 4/10 · 3 November 2006]

Oh boy, what to say about this.

Holland doesn't have a horror culture, and if this movie is any indication, it probably never will have one.

Let me get the good stuff out of the way: technically, the movie is adequate, with some good cinematography, decent music and (for Dutch standards) pretty decent effects.

But then we have to start judging the movie on its actual content and what impression that leaves. Which left me wholly underwhelmed (and i'm being kind). To summarize all the aspects: the acting ranges from decent to downright laughable (depending on the actors and on the emotion they were intended to express); the story (what little of it there is) ends up amounting to absolutely nothing the least bit interesting; the movie CRAWLED along, with most of it spent making characters sneak through dark corridors and rooms with flashlights where most of the times nothing ends up happening; the movie is repetitive in the extreme (scene: people rest in room - smoldering fire invades wood around them - people try to escape room - repeat ad nauseum); whenever something happens it is the usual annoying shocks of the "BOO" type with quick cut editing; we have characters that make NO impression whatsoever, and included a main protagonist who spent most of his time crying or making hilarious faces (supposedly representing a mix of shock , rage or crying, or all at the same time).

Put it this way, whatever tension the makers managed to build up initially went down the toilet when this viewer started quickly realizing that NOTHING scary (or gory) was going to happen. You can only have people creeping down corridors with flashlights for so long without payoff before i stop giving a hoot and thinking about turning the DVD off (which i didn't because i wanted to see if it improved).

I have to compliment the guys making the film for the technical proficiency and meaning well, but it seems as if they really thought that throwing ingredients from "Blair Witch Project", "Silent Hill" and "House on Haunted Hill (remake)" into a pot and cooking it, automatically meant the result would be a great tasting horror soup. This soup fell completely flat and tasted like nothing.

Sorry guys. You undoubtedly love horror, but loving it is different from being able to make it and doing a good job.

On a side note: some Dutch reviewers (see "reviews" on left side of IMDb page) have given the movie props for being a successful attempt. These people are obviously a bit too chauvinistic about Dutch "product" and need to regain their objectivity. You're not going to do horror's future in Holland any good by praising this movie if it really sucks. And those that think it really was good, ah well...

Blair Witch, Cube, The Ring, Evil Dead and the Blob in a dutch blender

[visser_matthijs · 5/10 · 4 August 2006]

Nice try to be the second successful Dutch horror movie. After the Lift from Dick Maas released in 1983, no Dutch horror movie was released successfully. The film is a mix from Blair Witch, Cube, The Ring, Evil Dead and the Blob and is not very original. The writer from Doodeind is a big fan from Evil Dead and brings "the book of dead" an homage. The movie brings nothing new, but looks good and has a few scary moments. I was very surprised of the acting work from a few leading actors in a positive way. Only Victoria Koblenko's acting is very bad. It is even hard to call it acting, it is so bad and I had the idea that she used an autocue in every scene. In the beginning her miscasting is quite funny but start to get irritating after a few minutes and then you wish she will die the cruelest of all. The movie is funny to watch for the people in Holland, because of the Dutch language. For the rest of the world, Doodeind is nothing special.

come on, we can do better than that

[Weary76 · 2/10 · 4 August 2006]

I saw this film on the first day it was released. I was glad it finally came, it would have been earlier. I had bad expectations, but as a Dutch horror fan and maker, I hoped it wouldn't be that bad.

But no matter how low my expectations were, the film was worse. It starts with the screenplay. Barely a story (the first half hour is mainly slowly walking through hallways with flashlights), uninteresting characters (you don't care if they live or die), and awful dialog. For no reason this story takes place in Scotland. Which leads to a Dutch actress talking half Englisch/ half what's-supposed-to-be Scottisch. Very funny, not intended to be.

Every horror scene is just one familiar from other American/Japanese films, badly imitated. The only things that are okay for Dutch standards are the score and the visual effects (not all of them). But this does not a good movie make!

I find it common sense that the makers had to search far and wide for investors, since this is obviously a piece of crap. And then comes the news that Tarantino's company is interested in making a remake. I'm sorry, but we can do much much better than this, when it comes to Dutch horror. Do NOT let this be the representative film for Dutch horror in the new millennium.

Same crap, different language...

[Coventry · 2/10 · 13 January 2007]

If there's one thing "Dood Eind" can teach us, it is that even the Dutch know about all the dreadful clichés of the horror genre and that it took until now, late 2006, before they processed them all into one lame movie. I'm pretty sure that, if this movie was made in any other country, it never would have seen the light of day, but since it's the Netherlands and since this nation is desperately craving its very own horror tradition, "Dood Eind" got exaggeratedly promoted in the specialized press and on websites. The story revolves on themes that you've seen a thousand times before already and largely blends the plots of the overrated films "Blair Witch Project" and "Ju-On: The Grudge". The writers, however, claim that their main inspiration was Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead", but I spotted very few similarities between that classic and this pretentious piece of junk, apart from the ominous woods and the book of the dead. Seven friends that haven't seen each other since their childhood (and actually can't stand each other anymore...) come together for a reunion trip in the Scottish countryside. On the first night around the campfire, the group is attacked by ravenous dogs and they're forced to take refugee in an abandoned house. Minor mistake, as it soon turns out that the house is haunted by the restless spirit of a woman whose baby got killed over a hundred years ago on suspicion of witchery. A haunted house? Dwelling ghosts?? Really? That's so original... NOT! Naturally it doesn't take long before all the clichés start following each other at fast pace. Spontaneously slamming doors, eerie noises coming from the attic and the occasional sudden appearance of a pale-faced ghost lady, they're all there. Stereotypes are well-presented as well, as the clique of seven contains a coward, a bitch, a macho, etc.. Strange fiery mucus that grows on the walls kills most of the Dutch trespassers, and the remaining survivors have to try and understand the house's history if they ever want to get out alive. Technically speaking, the film is okay. The budget was extremely low, but it was nevertheless enough to come up with a handful of decent visual effects and adequate filming locations. Even the acting performances are acceptable, although some of the players are difficult to understand even if you speak the same language. Nope, the problem with "Dood Eind" is purely the substance. There's never any tension since you can feel the 'twists' and 'shocks' coming well in advance and especially the climax is really pathetic. There's still hope for the Dutch horror film (check out "Sl8N8"), but "Dood Eind" is a production better left ignored.

dead end? dead movie!

[patient742617000027 · 2/10 · 31 October 2006]

OK, let me start off by saying something nice: 1: some of the special effects were quite good. (some weren't) 2: the lighting was very well done.

now, because I don't want to get too upset about it I will keep it short.

it sucked...it really did. there was no suspense at all. You'll almost fall asleep while waiting for something scary to happen.

The scenario and the director are most to blame. I can't believe he won an award for this! the acting is quite bad but mainly because of the dialog. I'm sure this is the best they could do with it.

the fact that it all happens in Scotland is just ridiculous! and the dutch woman trying to speak Scottish is just pathetic. I mean - they used Scottish kids in the movie so why couldn't they use a Scottish actress? trés horrible! (horror in the wrong kind of way.)

yet what disturbs me the most is the ending. that's probably why it's called dead end. because there is no. It's like they couldn't come up with a good ending so they let the actors improvise or something like that...hell, I don't know.

What I do understand is Tarantino's companies' interest in it because with the humor and real horror I'm sure Tarantino is able to bring in it can make it a good movie. (if he uses different actors and changes the script.) - but that's why they said they were interested in making a remake and not having it released in America.

so, I gave it 2 stars for the effects and lighting. and that's the most I can give to this piece of dogpoo. horror at its worst!

Better as expected after reading other comments

[Ralf-856-781275 · 7/10 · 27 September 2010]

So, as a long-time horror fan i just had to watch this home-ground made movie of course. After reading the comments here, i postponed it for a while. But now i've seen it, it is way better as my fellow reviewers suggest.

Is it a great script, preformed by marvelous actors? no, certainly not. But name me 3 horror-movies that do.

This is a very descent movie. The script is not bad at all. Maybe it is a bit slow at some points, as other reviewers point out, but conversations are better then usual in horrors. The big story-line isn't revolutionary, but it's 'unique' enough not be boring. The special fx aren't overwhelming, but they are convincing. Guess you cannot get any better within the budget.

The acting is actually quite nice. Some of these actors are dutch soap actors (Im not into that), but there was very little overacting. With the big emotions (fear, grief, anger) in this story, it would be easy to screw up, but they didn't.

The biggest problem i had was the guy who is attacked first, and dragged around by his friends. His state of 'dying/illness' varies a bit too much. Combined with the bad grime/makeup job they did on him, he appears more like a zombie, not like a badly injured guy. Well, i'm nitpicking here.

Overall, both me and my girlfriend where pleasantly surprised. It's oké.

If you had the time to make it to the end of this review, just watch the darn thing. It's not a movie to remember for years, but it will give you a nice evening. Especially if you're dutch and like horrors, you should not skip this one.

VERY BAD FILM and here's why: (spoiler alert)

[IHateBadFilms · 3/10 · 22 October 2007]

This film is absolutely terrible. Reasons will be mentioned. By the way. I'm not dissing people here. I've read about the director. He seems to be a very nice and hardworking guy.

But I'm just gonna be honest here. The film IS bad:

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1) The film starts all of the sudden (which is good sometimes) and then becomes slow. Veeerrryyyyy sloooowwww.

2) I can't possibly tell how bad the dialogue is. Every line is stolen from an English or US film and directly translated.

3) No character development at all. They're just there. That goes for the Dutch cast as well as for the 'witch' and her child.

4) The guy that gets wounded in the beginning becomes pale due to lack of blood. He becomes weaker and paler, but instead of fainting or dying, he gets his color and strength back.

5) The so-called hero (Chris) is probably meant to look tough but all he does is gasping, screaming and crying.

6) Same cry-baby (Chris) starts shooting his shotgun at fire (?!?!?!), but when standing by a locked door and a chain he doesn't shoot.

7) Why and how the witch mother took possession of the blonde girl can only be guessed.

8) Everything was there for a good scare effect. But it was only used once or twice.

9) A bad build-up. In the beginning there was some good tension and it was not totally slow. Than suddenly it became slowER. In the 2nd half all the actors did was walking, sitting, waiting, crying and dying.

I could go on forever. What pains me the most is that you actually see the actors try. They're not that bad, but you can see that the script sucked big time. Technically it's OK. Good effects and lighting. The sound quality is fine, but the choice of music never made sense. But how the director/producer managed to even THINK that the script and dialogue were OK, is the biggest mystery.

The horror became a drama. End of a story which never actually was a story...............

_______________________ CRAPMASTER BOLL SUXX!!!

I wanted to like this movie...

[eemflibble · 3/10 · 20 April 2008]

Picked this DVD up on a five-hour wait in Schiphol and watched it that night in a hotel room. I was hoping that it would have some of that black-humour quality that 'De Lift' has, but this movie really doesn't have much to recommend it at all. The pacing is off, the story is lacking and by an hour into the movie, the urge to turn it off and check my email instead was slowly becoming overwhelming. Still, I watched the rest of it, and it's just as bad as other reviews suggest that it is. As a rule, you stop caring about the characters long before you find out what happens to them. So disappointing... but next time I pass through Schiphol I'll still be checking the Dutch DVD section in the airport shops...

Surprisingly good.

[the_real_lopes · 8/10 · 4 August 2006]

I went to the cinema without having any good hope for the movie whatsoever, the TMF campaign and all gave a cheap and baldy hyped image of the whole movie, so my view on it wasn't that positive. Overlooking some of the cliché moments and effects, this turned out to be a rather unfair judgment.

I was surprised by the overall quality of the movie, the attention to detail and the atmosphere created in some of the scenes. We all know survival horrors aren't always that interesting nor scary, this movie however gave it a twist. For a change, it had almost had me poop my pants certain moments. And I wasn't the only one, I remember the audience laughing and reacting overwhelmed by moments like, lets say the mirror scene. Which in my opinion was very well though out. The way Everon Jackson Hooi showed fear made me sit on top of my chair in that scene, not actually wanting to see what it was that made him so scared.

Overall, for a first time dutch movie in this genre I thought it worked out great. A must see for dutchies, and maybe even people outside of Holland. I'd say, subtitle it and bring out an international version and see what the world thinks.

Just clichés...

[pc-loch · 4 September 2011]

Dutch film industry isn't big...good actors are hard to find. Good scriptwriters apparently are even harder to find. Every single cliché that has been used in dozens of horror films you be sure to find is this one too !!! A book is found with spells and so...hey...haven't I seen this before...? Well...I won't "spoil" any more "viewing-pleasures". Better yet Don't watch it. It's a complete waste of time. Why give it 2 stars you ask? Mmmm...another Dutch production...SL8N8 (Butchers Night) ...is even worse. So that's my 1 star movie. If you haven't watched either: BE WARNED...and DON'T watch !!! It's not an A lister, not even a B lister. Nope...I would rather say it's a N lister, N like in NO !!!

nice try but no...

[Calexica · 2/10 · 6 January 2007]

Although there were some nice shock-effects and the special effects were great this was a very boring movie! the characters had no depth at all and the actors weren't that great (there have to be more talented actors in The Netherlands). The plot is explained at the end but in the mean while you have to sit for more than an hour wondering what the hell it is all about. It was a complete rip off from other successful horror films. It was a nice attempt to try and compete with Sl8n8cht but they failed big time! Critics claim that there is a revival of the so called Nederhorror but now I know what they mean. "Neder" stands for low and this movie is at a very low level.

Great horror movie from Dutch ground

[stomwijf · 10/10 · 19 March 2007]

In spite of all the comments I have already read, I really liked it. For the first time a Dutch movie without nudity and with all the usual horror ingredients. My hands were in front of my eyes a lot of the time and I didn't have that feeling with a Dutch move since De Lift from Dick Maas. I even was surprised by the way the story was set up. And not to spoil anything, but I also liked the ending. Great to see some of the famous Dutch soap actors in a very different part from what they do usually.

So to sum it all up: Fortunately the actors didn't have to overact and the effects were as good as you can see in most of the US mad horror movies. And this movie was scary. Thanks for a great viewing time and looking forward to the next horror movei frm Dutch ground.

So to even the odds and give this movie what it deserves a 10+ for me.

And keep up the Horror movies in Holland!!

Great movie, International quality, promising actors.

[teunpel · 10/10 · 29 January 2007]

When I first heard the Netherlands was going to make a scary movie I got really exited. It took a while before the website was launched and the trailer was released. The trailer looked really professional so I was really looking forward to it. The film poster did not look cheap like those of most Dutch movies but looked like it could have been from the States. With a low budget the filmmakers managed to make a scary movie which is no worse than its American or Asian equivalent.

The quality of the movie is good enough to be released in the rest of Europe. Though there is room for improvement, the special make-up, visual effects, sets, music and sound effects are really great and demonstrates the talent and capability of people to create a good movie. The tone of the music and storyline resembles the Asian style. Dark atmosphere and colors and an evil cursed house with a dark history. The image quality etc. looks like the American style horror movie with one main difference. In the typical American scary movie the black people and blond girls die first. We also know from minute one who is gonna live. This movie completely breaks away from it (the blond girl and black guy are the last remaining. The movie is shot with HD camera's and special effects such as green screen are used effectively.

Unlike the Asian horror style it does not have a huge plot twist at the end or many disturbing things in it. There are multiple threats and the seven friends must uncover the dark history of the house before it kills them all. The background story is not very simple and maybe to hard to understand. Even though the story is not most original (a cursed and haunted house, good friends on holiday, etc), and it closely resembles the American and Asian style, it's still good. I don't understand why people don't like it just because it looks like the conventional American and Asian thing, that's a good thing, right? This means it is of the same quality as two great movie industries and is appealing to a large public.

Another discussion is the title. All Dutch people seem to have the preconceived idea that a scary movie can only have a good title if the title is English. I do not agree. Scream, Halloween Resurrection, Final Destination, The Ring etc. Dutch people think they sound scary but it's not like the title has the same impact on native speakers. Does De Laatste Bestemming or De Kring sound scary to you? Of course not! A horror title does not have to make you pee your pants from fear it just has to sound dark.

The movie starts of with a blast. A women in despair in a burning house screaming for her baby and burning to death. We meet the main characters in very short amount of time. It would be better if we would have got to know them a bit better so we would have more sympathy for them. Maybe it was a budgetary problem. It does not really become clear the friends want to go climbing in the Scottish mountains either because we don't hear them talking about it or preparing for it. The old friends sit around a fire and are attacked by dogs. They try to drive away from them but hit a tree. The car chase was a good thing but it went to fast and the camera movements were to wild. The first half hour is scary but the sense of the intensity of the situation does not come through. Only when the first person dies and people are burned by an evil burning panic starts to spread.

A great job done by the actors who are truly shocked by the situation and cry, tremble, scream etc. Every actor does a great job although not all of them have any depth. My compliments to Anniek, Victoria, Mads and Everon for their great acting. They convincingly portrayed the people and the fear and shock of it all. The cursed and haunted house is truly scary and the music carriers the movie. There are several really scary moments such as the encounters with Mary McBane, the closet, the visions and other moments. Vulgus, the demon child was really creepy and he moved in an odd way. I feel the movie would have been way more uncomfortable if we would have seen more of him. The dialogs are not fantastic but this does not disturb the movie.

The house is really old and creepy and contains jars with fetuses, old paintings, a laundry room etc. As the movie gets along the dark history is uncovered and more people die. The movie builds up to a nice climax with great music, visual effects, acting and a great shock. The movie truly is a scary movie with shocking moments, scary settings, music and contains gross and heavy moments. The only thing I wonder about is why the story was set in Scotland and not in The Netherlands. We have had witch trials too.

It is unfair people refuse to see this movie just because it is Dutch. The Dutch are so accustomed to be negative about their own product and so positive about anything that is not Dutch. It is just weird. We should be a little more positive and proud of the movies and artists who are good and at least give them a shot. I really advice everyone to at least watch it once and judge for yourself. I hope the Netherlands will start making more genre movies not just comedies and book adaptations. Maybe a good action thriller? If only more money could be spend on making movies, the quality would improve greatly because there is plenty of talent.

Great movie

[j_vanloenen · 10/10 · 4 August 2006]

For a Dutch production this is a really great movie good special effects you really have to see this.....especially the actress Terence Schreurs is very special in this movie because she burns in HELL like nobody did before in the Netherlands because it looked very real if you know that these kind of special effects are made with a so to say Green Screen so you act with nothing around you only a Green Screen so you really have to imagine everything around you way to go Terence...they even say that here co-actress Victoria Koblenko is the new Scream Queen of the Netherlands but then I have to say that Terence is the new die Queen of the Netherlands....for upcoming new directors/talent this is a really good movie....